Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Renowned artists in Peru such as Gian Marco Zignago, Damaris Mallma and Peru Negro have been nominated to take part in this year's Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, which is to be held on November 13 in Houston, Texas.

In this 9th edition of the premier international showcase of Latin music, singer-songwriter Gian Marco, who won a Latin Grammy in 2005, is competing for the Best Male Pop Vocal Album (Desde adentro) and The Song of the Year (Todavía).

"I'm very happy, proud of what's happening, not just to me, but also Damaris and Peru Negro. It's a wonder, a blessing that the world's eyes, with these nominations, are on Peru," said Gian Marco, a native of the Limean district of Surco.

Young and talented Damaris, who won two awards at the 2008 Viña del Mar Festival in Chile and sang for Peru's independence day at the White House, has been nominated and could receive a Latin Grammy for Best Folk Album (Mil caminos).

"I'm really happy because good things are happening to me this year. This nomination, for example, is an important step in my career, which is just starting," said Damaris, stating she was honored to be participating in the ceremony alongside Peru Negro.

Peru Negro, a world-renowned Afro-Peruvian ensemble which recently toured the U.S., has also been nominated in the Best Folk Album category.

The group's album, Zamba Malató, which was released in January 2008, was recently promoted during a two and a half month tour through the United States.

"We are happy to be competing for one of the biggest awards in the world," said the famous ensemble.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Sandra Muente and Nicole Pillman, the two women representing Peru during this season of Latin American Idol, continue to put up a good fight for a shot at becoming the reality show's latest star.

Both Muente and Pillman, who are presently among the final seven contestants, showed their talent with strong performances Wednesday night and were congratulated by judges.

17-year-old Sandra Muente was the first of the two contestants to sing.

After performing Bon Jovi's "Cama de Rosas", Gustavo Sánchez, a businessman in the music industry, affirmed Sandra had made him feel the music like never before.

Nicole Pillman, a 22-year-old accounting student at San Marcos University, was next to go on stage and was praised for her sexy performance.

"Your attitude surprises me, you feel sexy, you know you're sexy and you're exploiting that," said judge Elizabeth Sánchez after Pillman sang "Así como tú", a song performed by the Mexican rock band Jaguares.

As in other editions of Latin American Idol, finalists are chosen by the audience, which can vote for the participant of their choice by dialing 43657 and sending a text message with the singer's name.

Votes are received from Wednesday evenings, after the show, until Thursdays.

The show can be seen in Lima on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on channel 15 (Cable Magico) or on channel 210 (DirecTV).

Duran Duran, English pop rock band famous for a long series of popular singles, has confirmed five shows in South America starting November 4 in Lima, Peru to promote their latest production Red Carpet Massacre.

According to their official web site, the Duran Duran promotional tour includes shows in Buenos Aires, Santiago, Bogotá and Panama.

The band will perform at the Monumental Stadium in Lima, Peru on a stage with a great deal of lights and a hi-tech sound system.

During their last European concert in Italy, Duran Duran front man Simon LeBon said the tour around South America would be extremely exciting for all of them.

Duran Duran comprises Simon Le Bon (vocals), John Taylor (bass), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), and Roger Taylor (drums).

During an illustrious career spanning three decades, Duran Duran have remained at the forefront of popular music, consistently pushing the creative envelope and breaking new ground.

Since their inception, the band has sold over 70 million albums, recorded countless hit records, received numerous accolades, and has been presented with no fewer than five prestigious “Lifetime Achievement” awards since 2002 (MTV Video Music Award, Q Magazine, The BRITS, Ivor Novello, Spanish Ondas).

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

For the first time on Latin American Idol, the show has two Peruvians in its final rounds.

Nicole Pillman and Sandra Muente continue to compete in the international reality show.

The two young women were told by American Idol hosts that "Latin America had voted for them" and they would continue to compete in final rounds.

Of the 20,000 singers that attempted to compete in the show and the thirty that were among the show's finalists last month, only eight are left - two of which are now Pillman and Muente.

17-year-old Sandra Muente, who automatically qualified for a Top 10 spot in late July, was the first to be selected for the final group of eight.

Immediately after Sandra was chosen, Latin American Idol's co-host told Nicole Pillman, a 22-year-old accounting student at San Marcos University, that she had also qualified for the next round of the show.

As in other editions of Latin American Idol, finalists are chosen by the audience, which can vote for the participant of their choice by dialing 43657 and sending a text message with the singer's name.

The show can be seen in Lima on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on channel 15 (Cable Magico) or on channel 210 (DirecTV).

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

After wearing Peru's flag as a dress during a fashion show in Chile, model Karla Casós affirmed she was not sorry for what she had done and clarified it was very different from the nude pictures taken of Leysi Suarez.

"I'm not going to criticize Leysi's nude photos but I wouldn't have done that," said the Peruvian model, stating she had nothing against Leysi.

Casós affirmed wearing the flag at a fashion show and sitting on it nude were two completely different things.

"I was in an haute couture fashion show and I didn't sit on the flag atop a horse," said the model, a native of Chiclayo.

She added that the only way she would pose naked with Peru's flag would be if "congressional representatives asked me to, then I'd do it with pleasure".

Casós, who has also posed for calendars, explained that the concept of wearing Peru's flag as a dress during a fashion show had been the idea of Ricardo Oyarzun, a Chilean fashion designer.

She affirmed the designer had a lot of love for Peru and wanted to bring the two countries closer.

"I think that when you wear the flag as an article of clothing it should be with a lot of respect," said the model.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Statements were made by everyone from Peru's Defense Minister to reporters on BBC when a nude picture of a Peruvian showgirl sitting on the country's flag was posted on the cover of an entertainment magazine.

It was affirmed that charges would be brought against model/dancer Leysi Suarez and the head of D Farandula magazine, Daysi Ontaneda (right) for inappropriate acts with a national symbol.

Ontaneda appeared on Monday at her first hearing for the controversial picture that caused an array of reactions across Peru.

It was reported that the head of the entertainment magazine showed up for her hearing fifteen minutes late accompanied by a lawyer and her father in law.

She was present to explain herself to prosecutors for the picture posted on the cover of D Farandula.

Leysi Suarez has already publicly apologized and affirmed she would "not make the same mistake again", stating it was an immature act.

She assured the picture was Ontaneda's idea and she was just doing her job as a model.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

After Peruvian entrepreneurs affirmed it would be impossible for Madonna to include Peru on her Latin American tour assuring the Queen of Pop charged approximately $4 million per concert, local media stated the Andean country would have to settle for Cyndi Lauper.

It has been confirmed that the American Emmy and Grammy award-winning singer will perform in the country's capital on November 27.

Lauper, who was the first artist in history to have four top-five singles released from one album, is to perform for the first time in Peru at the Estadio Monumental in the Limean district of Ate-Vitarte.

She has assured she will perform several of her greatest hits such as Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time" as well as songs in her latest album Bring Ya to the Brink.

In other music news, it was reported that the Mexican rock band Molotov would be coming to Peru on August 15 despite news that their concert had been canceled.

They are to play at the Parque de la Exposición in Lima alongside Peruvian rock bands such as La Mente.

Peruvian singer-songwriter Gian Marco began on Friday his concert tour called “Desde Adentro” with a wonderful show at Lima’s Marsano theater, which was packed with 500 people who showered him with loud applause and cheers.

Gian Marco was moved when the audience sang his emblematic theme “Hasta que vuelvas conmigo” from his last album. The concert began with “Vientos del sur”, theme of great personal significance for Gian Marco.

He also performed the songs “Hoy”, “Me cansé de ti”, “Canta corazón” and “Tu fotografía”, in their original versions.

“This season represents the beginning of a new phase in Gian Marco’s carrier. He will give a series of concerts in Lima and provinces, as well as Mexico, Colombia and Spain, where he is also promoting his new album. This is a time of changes and new experiences”, his manager Ivan Cock pointed out.

Marsano theater has a special meaning to him because his mother, Peruvian actress and singer Regina Alcóver, performed there for many years and he also had his first acting experiences there.

“It is a magical place and it holds many memories for me”, Gian Marco said.

The 2005 Latin Grammy award winner released on June 20 his new album "Desde Adentro" which is a compilation of all the songs he composed for artists such as Emmanuelle, Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony among others.

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Two Peruvian singers have made it to the final stage of the third edition of Latin American Idol.

Nicole Pillman, a 21-year-old accounting student at the University of San Marcos is one step closer to fulfilling one of her greatest dreams, being internationally recognized for her talent.

"Thank you Peru, thank you Latin America," were Pillman's words when she found out she had made it into Latin American Idol's top ten.

The Peruvian girl from San Martin de Porres made it to the reality show's final stage by singing "Escucha tu corazón", a song by Laura Pausini.

Like Sandra Muente, Pillman was the first singer chosen out of her group.

The two Peruvians have entered the toughest part of the show, in which they will go up against each other and eight other singers that want to be the next Latin American Idol.

The show can be seen in Lima on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on channel 15 (Cable Magico) or on channel 210 (DirecTV).

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

While this is not the first time Peru has had a singer in the top 30 spot on the Latin version of the famous reality show, American Idol, it is the first time the country has had one singer in the top 10 spot and another in the top 30.

Last week, 17-year-old Sandra Muente blew contestants and judges away when she was ranked number one in her group and automatically advanced to the final round of Latin American Idol, which is currently in its third season.

Sandra thanked Peru for all its love and support.

Nicole Pillman, on the other hand, will compete tonight, Wednesday evening, to see if she has what it takes to advance to the top 10 along with Sandra.

Nicole, a 22-year-old accounting student at the University of San Marcos, is in the third and final workshop.

Thirty singers were divided into three groups or workshops and are being eliminated as the show continues.

Three singers were chosen from the first workshop the week before last while three were chosen from Sandra's group, the second workshop, last week.

The two have already advanced far in the competition, which began with over 20,000 contestants.

As in other editions of Latin American Idol, finalists are chosen by the audience, which can vote for the participant of their choice by dialing 43657 and sending a text message with the singer's name.

The show can be seen in Lima on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on channel 15 (Cable Magico) or on channel 210 (DirecTV).